Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Company fined over worker's quadbike death

Updated at 6:02 pm on 20 March 2010

A Masterton honey production company has been ordered to pay nearly $140,000 in fines and reparations following the death of a beekeeper in a quadbike accident.

PA & SC Steens Ltd has been fined fined $78,000 and ordered by Masterton District Court to pay the dead man's family reparation of $60,000.

The company had admitted a charge of failing to ensure the safety of an employee following the crash in August 2008.

The Department of Labour says the beekeeper was given only basic instructions about how to use the bike, before setting off to service hives on a farm at nearby Riversdale.

The man wasn't wearing a helmet, and died of head injuries after the bike overturned.

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